Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Bronze R.N.L.I. medal awarded to Joseph Atkinson, Captain of the Padstow Steam Tug Helen Peele, for the rescue of the crew of the Port Isaac fishing boat Our Girlie during a gale near Portquin

Royal National Lifeboat Institution, G.V.R., bronze (Joseph Atkinson, Voted 21st February, 1929.) with uniface ‘double dolphin’ suspension, complete with original suspension brooch in its gilt embossed R.N.L.I. presentation case, extremely fine and scarce £600-£800

‘Atkinson, Joseph, Captain, Padstow Steam Tug Helen Peele.
27 November 1928: When, at 4.30 a.m. it was found that the Port Isaac fishing boat Our Girlie could not be accounted for in a west-north-westerly gale, the steam tug put out and, using her searchlight, found her anchored close to shore near Portquin. In the heavy seas she was in danger, if her cable broke, of being cast on to the rocks. Captain Atkinson caused oil to be released, which smoothed the waves, then stood in and anchored in two to three fathoms. He then manoeuvred the tug alongside and took off the five men, just before the boat was thrown on to the rocks.’ (Ref. Lifeboat Gallantry, by Barry Cox).